As an educator and an intrinsically competitive, type A personality, I get more annoyed when children and adults give up too soon or refuse to try at all than if they try and get the answer wrong, or try and lose.
You don’t try. Why? Because you’re afraid. So giving in to fear and sitting out actually perpetuates your fear. It’s a lose-lose situation.
When you try and lose, you in fact win. Oxymoronic, I know. But hear me out…
You win because you try.
You win because when you try you discover that you can.
You win because when you realise the height of your capabilities you raise your game for the next time.
You win because when you raise your game for the next time, you get better.
You win because when you get better, this better resilience, focus, motivation and many other positive attributes of trying pour out into all areas of your life.
You win because when you pour out enough positive energy, you inspire and engage others to do the same.
And it becomes a beautiful cycle.
And let me leave you with this final thought: what would the world do if the likes of Albert Einstein or Thomas Edison had given up on their 9,999th attempt? Or worse yet, not tried at all?
“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work!” Thomas Edison
Try a little, live a lot 😉
Love this post! As a father of 2 young girls, I work to reinforce this message every day. I think it is so important to teach our children that trying and failing is the only way to get to success/winning. You have to fail to earn success.
Thank you for your comment ! I completely agree. I’m so glad you are building your children up with this message. They’ll be such successes because of this!